Rum Ration
the Navy Network

Monarch all the way. The septics have not got it right for over two hundred years and neither have France! I don't understand why anyone would want to change the head of state. Making one person accountable for a nation is not productive.

A long similar lines, can anyone think of a current candidate for UK President.

When you compare the number of countries with Presidents to those with constitutional monarchies the former wins hands down so it must ave something going for it. I think the way we operate the Monarchy in the UK is the secret to it's success.While the Queen is considered Head of State she doesn't have to get her hands dirty managing the country but merely rubber stamps whatever is handed to her by her Government.Presidents,however are in it up to their necks and the temptation to abuse power to further your own ends must be almost irresistable and this can clearly be seen in Presidences today.whatever safeguards are put into place to limit a presidents power they often work hard to circumvent.
The Queen can be used to glad-hand and show hospitality to all manner of tyrant to further the UK's influence without being a threat to anyone and I expect there are plenty of countries who booted out their Royal Family when it was trendy now wish they had someone like the Queen rather than some slimey politician who has climbed the greasy pole back stabbing and palm greasing in equal measure.

Simple way to answer.

Would the sight of His Royal Blairness and the first Lady cherie standing on the balcony of the Peoples Palace (aka Buckingham Palace) engender the same crowd scenes as today.

Personally I think the answer is yes, but only if the crowds were en route for a good spot of house clearance...

Monarchy, definitely. I have nothing but respect for the Queen and all the work she's done over the last 60 years, and I don't think there's a politician I could respect at all as head of state. Also, I find the tradition of it all comforting, particularly in these uncertain times. Even if you wanted rid of it, I think there are more important issues at the moment than the constitution.

Speaking of which, the Queen (I think William and Kate are coming as well) is visiting my town next week, and I'm hoping to go, if other commitments don't prevent me

Well I take my hat off to the Windsor’s (The Great Survivors) and their advisors, I could not have done a better job myself of winning over the masses. Now, to don the republican hat, what does amuse me is that if you hear of a MP or some other high earner dodging his/her taxes you are all queuing up to mount the bus, yet you remain subserviently silent when the royals strike a special deal with HMRC over their vast unearned income?

I'm sure I spotted Alex Salmond in St Paul's today.

I think the monarchy wins it as an apolitical head of state, that can come in handy at times when meeting and greeting presidents etc.